The Ashes 2013: Dos and Don'ts for Australia at Lord's

DON’Ts

Bank on another rescue attempt

The batting, especially in the middle order, was below par and was rescued twice by the tail-enders. The batters have to step on the gas and put up a better showing. It is ludicrous to realise that the bottom five in the batting line up did most of the batting in both the innings.

Let Anderson dominate

On a flat pitch where Finn and others struggled (Finn especially so in the second innings), the English were rescued by a one-man army in Jimmy Anderson, who bowled his heart out and got them the wickets that mattered. To exercise caution while facing him in particular will do the Aussie batters no harm, especially when he could do things with the ball when others were leaking runs or, at best, were ineffective.

Waste Appeals

The Stuart Broad decision was a defining factor that decided the course of the match

Matt Prior does an exceptional job, not only while keeping wickets, but also when a decision made by the on-field umpire seems contentious. More than the bowler, it is Prior who seems to have a final call in deciding whether or not the appeal should be used, and Cook takes his word for it.

The wicket-keeper has the best idea regarding whether a referral has the potential to metamorphose into a wicket, and Haddin must play a proactive role in taking such decisions, and not just the bowler.

The Australians must learn to make optimum use of DRS and not waste attempts at referral, something that probably cost them the first match. Even the successful appeal against Trott wasn’t something the Australians deserve credit for, considering the fact that it was a technical blunder.